Automatic vending machine for greeting cards and the like



Nov. 23, 1965 R. H. WICHMAN 3,219,234

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR GREETING CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed March 6. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i www- Nov. 23, 1965 R, H. WICHMAN 3,219,234

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR GREETING CARDS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1961 DUDDDDDUDU 1965 R. H. WICHMAN 3,219,234

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR GREETING CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 II II I II 1965 R. H. WICHMAN AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR GREETING CARDS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 6, 1961 United States Patent 3,219,234 AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE FOR GREETING CARDS AND THE LIKE Robert H. Wichman, Park Forest, 11]., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Standard Packaging Corporation, New

York, N .Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,405 13 Claims. (Cl. 221-6) This invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a machine for storing and dispensing a very large variety of articles. The invention is especially adapted for use in connection with the dispensing of greeting cards and will herein be described as a greeting card vending machine; however, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the machine 'or various parts thereof may be used for vending various articles other than greeting cards.

Heretofore there has been no satisfactory machine for the dispensing of greeting cards. This was probably as a result of the difiiculty in handling the individual greeting cards, which come in many different sizes, are very thin, and are not readily adapted for mechanical manipulation. Also, any mechanism for dispensing greeting cards must of necessity be capable of holding a tremendously wide assortment of cards because of the various tastes of the purchasers with respect to art work on the greeting cards and because each card is or should be purchased to convey the desired message to the person to whom it is sent. A vending machine for greeting cards, although holding a wide variety of the cards, nevertheless, must be compact, so that it will occupy a minimum amount of floor space and may be conveniently transported to and used in the most advantageous areas for the sale of the cards.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a fully automatic vending machine for greeting cards and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a greeting card vending machine capable of holding a large number of cards and ofiering to the purchaser an unusually wide variety of selections.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a machine for vending greeting cards which will tremendously reduce the selling cost of the cards and will completely eliminate pilferage and soiling of the cards.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine which will effect a quick, easy, and profitable sale of a wide assortment of greeting cards in such a manner as to insure the freshness and cleanliness 'of each card sold.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a greeting card vending machine which is of rugged construction, may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and is easily serviced.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a compact vending machine for greeting cards which may be placed in any number of advantageous locations to effect the automatic sale of cards of all popular sizes.

Other objects will be seen, and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The machine constructed in accordance with this invention is particularly adapted to dispense greeting cards or other articles which come in a wide assortment and are difficult to handle and to mechanically manipulate. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the machine comprises a frame on which are removably mounted a plurality of elongated racks. These racks are arranged in substantially spaced parallel relationship wtih respect to each other, and each rack is completely removable from the machine. Each rack carries a plurality of independently operable dispensing mechanisms thereon, and each dispensing mechanism has a first or 3,219,234 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 fixed element and a second or movable element which is adapted to be moved between a normal and a dispensing position. Each card or article is contained within its own receptacle, and means is provided for releasably attaching each receptacle to the fixed element of one of the dispensers. When the movable element of the dispenser is moved to its dispensing position, the receptacle with the card or other article therein is released from the mechanism and dispensed. In order to effect this movement of the dispensing mechanism movable element, an actuation means is provided. This actuation means preferably includes a movable carriage, which remains oriented parallel to the racks and is driven transversely through a plurality of mechanism-actuation positions, wherein it is substantially aligned with one of the racks. In the preferred embodiment, there are eight racks, and thus, there are eight actuation positions of the carriage. A plurality of independently and electrically operated actuation elements are mounted on the carriage for actuating the dispensing mechanisms on the racks. In the preferred embodiment, for example, there are twenty dispensing mechanisms on each rack, and thus, there are twenty actuation elements on the movable carriage. A control means guides the carriage to a preselected mechanism-actuation position and energizes a preselected one of the actuation elements on the carriage corresponding to that position, whereby a preselected dispensing mechanism on that particular rack will be operated to dispense the receptacle containing a particular greeting card or other article therefrom.

One of the features of this invention is the construction of the dispensing mechanisms on the racks. These mechanisms have only one moving part and yet they operate in a manner which assures the dispensing of a greeting card receptacle each time they are actuated providing, of course, a greeting card receptacle is present in the dispenser. Another of the features of this invention is the novel means including the control system for selectively actuating the dispensing mechanisms on the racks. Another feature of the invention is the manner in which the racks are supported by the frame. Each rack may be independently removed or extended for purposes of refilling or servicing the dispensing mechanisms thereon.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the machine with a portion of the front panel removed showing the racks and the cards of various sizes hanging from the dispensing mechanisms on the racks;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the frame of the machine showing the racks and the carriage;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of a portion of the machine taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3 and showing the carriage;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the carriage and a portion of the frame on which the carriage is adapted to move;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded view of one of the actuation elements on the carriage showing the movement of that actuation element to effect operation of one of the dispensing mechanisms;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end elevation view of one of the racks showing the normal position of the movable dispensing element of one of the dispensing mechanisms;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the rack showing the movable dispensing element of one of the dispensing mechanisms after it has been moved to its dispensing position by an actuation element on the carriage and after one of the greeting card receptacles has been released;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of one of the racks showing the card receptacles attached to and depending from the dispensing mechanisms thereon;

FIG. is an enlarged exploded view showing the dispensing element of one of the dispensing mechanisms;

1 FIG. 11 is an enlarged side elevation view of a portion of one of the racks showing two of the dispensing mechanisms and the card receptacles depending therefrom;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the hook elements which is used to connect the receptacle containing the card or other article to the dispensing mechanism; and

FIG. 13 is a diagram of the electrical system which may be employed in the apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

With further reference to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the dispensing machine 15 therein illustrated is particularly adapted for dispensing greeting cards. This machine has a cabinet or case 17 having a front panel 19, the top portion 19a of which is disposed at an angle with the horizontal for easy viewing and has a bank of control buttons 21 which are appropriately numbered and a divided bank of control buttons 23 which are appropriately lettered. In the preferred embodiment, there are eight numbered control buttons and twenty lettered control buttons for a total of one hundred sixty selections. Also on the control panel are several illuminated instruction windows 24, 25, and 26. A coin slot 27 and a coin return button 28 are also provided on the control panel 19a.

The bottom 29 of the cabinet preferably slopes toward the front of the machine, and the front panel 19 of the cabinet is spaced slightly above the bottom 29. The car-d receptacles may thus be dispensed onto the bottom of the cabinet, and they will move by gravity toward the front of the machine where the operator may retrieve them below the front panel 19. Extending above the top of the cabinet 17 is a display shelf 30 adapted to hold the assortment of greetitng cards 31 which are contained within and may be dispensed from the machine 15. The machine is capable of dispensing all popular sizes of greeting cards including those which are long and narrow. In general, the size of the card will not effect the machines ability to handle that card. The cards 31 are contained within suitable individual receptacles 32 which insure the freshness and cleanliness of the card. The machine 15 effects the dispensing of both the card and the receptacle.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, mounted hori zontally within the cabinet 17 of the machine is a frame 35. This frame includes a front bar 37 and a parallel rear bar 39, both of which span the width of the cabinet and are bolted to the sides thereof. Extending between the front and rear bars 37 and 39 are eight pairs of parallel channel bars 41, the channel bars in each pair being laterally open toward each other and spaced to slidably accommodate a substantially channel-shaped rack 43 therebetween. Thus, the frame 35 is adapted to accommodate eight such racks 43 in substantially parallel, uniformly spaced relationship. Each rack 43 may be completely removed from the machine or may be extended as illustrated in FIG. 3 in order to facilitate the loading or servicing of the dispensing mechanisms 45.

Each rack 43 has a plurality of dispensing mechanisms 45 thereon, and each mechanism is adapted to hold and sequentially dispense a plurality of greeting card receptacles 32 therefrom as will be more fully described. The depth of the frame, that is, the distance between front and rear bars 37 and 39 is preferably somewhat less than the depth of the cabinet so that there remains a space between the front bar 37 and the front of the cabinet and a similar space between the rear bar 39 and the back of the cabinet. The length of each rack 43 is approximately equal to the depth of the frame 35, so that when the racks are in their retracted or operative position, they are coextensive with the frame. The dispensing mechanisms 45 are regularly and uniformly spaced on the racks 43, so that when the racks are in their operative position, the

4 mechanisms will be aligned horizontally in the direction normal to the parallel racks.

An elongate channel-shaped carriage 47, the length of which is also approximately equal to the depth of the frame 35, is mounted for movement transversely over the top of the frame from one side thereof to the other. In the preferred embodiment, the mechanisms 45 are aligned normal to the racks, and, therefore, the movement of the carriage 47 will also be normal to the racks. A pair of wheels 49 at one end of the carriage engage and roll upon the rear side bar 39 of the frame, and a similar pair of wheels 51 at the front end of the carriage 47 engage within and roll upon the front side bar 37 of the frame. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a substantially U- shaped sheet metal yoke 53 is connected to and depends from the ends of the carriage 47. The sides of the yoke 53 extend downwardly on the outside of the side bars 37 and 39, and the base 53a of the yoke 53 is parallel to the carriage 47 and is in close proximity with the sloping bottom 29 of the cabinet. The yoke 53, thus, is carried by and is moved with the carriage 47 transversely between the sides of the frame 35, and as the carriage sweeps over the racks 43, the yoks 53 will sweep under the racks in vertical alignment with the carriage.

In order to effect the transverse sweeping movement of the carriage 47 over the top of the frame 35, a motor 55 is mounted on the carriage, and this motor drives a spur gear 57 which is in engagement with a rack 59. The rack 59, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, spans the width of the frame and is bolted thereto above the rack supporting channel bars 41 and above the carriage 47. The motor 55 is a reversible A.C. motor, and the carriage 57 may be moved to the right or to the left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 depending upon the direction in which the motor 55 is operated. The carriage 47 carries a plurality of actuating mechanisms 61 which are adapted to effect movement of the dispensing mechanisms 45 on the racks 43, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The dispensing mechanisms 45 are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7 through 12. These mechanisms 45 are identically constructed and each consists of a diagonal bar 67 and a movable operating element 6-9. One end 67a of each of diagonal bars 67 is welded or otherwise fixed to the top web of the channel-shaped rack, and the tip or free end 67b of each diagonal bar extends diagonally forward toward the front of the machine when the associated rack 43 is properly placed in position on the frame. The operating elements 69 are each pivotally mounted on a rod 71 which is fixed to the top of the rack 43 and extends substantially the length of the rack. Portions 43a of the rack web are struck upwardly to hold the rod 71 firmly in place on the rack, as best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

The operating elements 69 are preferably molded in one piece out of plastic or other suitable material. Each operating member has a cylindrical sleeve portion 73 which is mounted on the bar 71 for pivotal movement relative thereto. Extending upwardly from this sleeve 73 is an operating arm 75, and extending downwardly from the sleeve 73 through an aperture 76 in the web of the channel-shaped rack 43 is a dispensing arm 77, the end of which is bifurcated to provide a pair of blades 79 and 81. The blade 79 is offset to one side of and spaced to the rear of the finger 81, as best illustrated in FIGS; 8 and 10. A bar 83 is molded on the rear surface of finger 81 in spaced relationship with respect to the end of that finger.

A spring 85 is coiled about the sleeve 73 of the operating element. One end 85a of this spring engages the operating arm of the operating member, and the opposite end b of the coil spring extends into the aperture 76 in the top of the rack, and thus, the spring 85 resiliently urges the operating element 69 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8, toward its normal position illustrated in FIG. 7. A shoulder abut ment 87 on the dispensing arm 77 of the operating ele ment stops the clockwise movement of the operating member in the normal position thereof. Each operating member is hinged to the bar 71 above the tip 67b of the associated diagonal bar 67.

As previously described, the cards or other articles to be dispensed are preferably carried in paper bags or other suitable receptacles 32, and a hook-like connecting member 93, such as that illustrated in FIG. 12, may be attached by suitable adhesive or the like to the upper end of the bag 32. In order to facilitate this attachment, the hook member 93 has a flat transverse bar 95 at one end thereof. A pair of spacer elements 97 extend outwardly from adjacent the top of the hook member 93. The hook 93 with the bag 32 attached thereto is hooked over the diagonal bar 67 of the dispensing mechanism and is pulled by gravity toward the free end or tip 67b of the diagonal bar into engagement with the forward finger 81 of the operating element 69.

In the preferred embodiment, at least six hooks may be engaged over the diagonal bar 67, as best illustrated in FIG. 11. The spacer elements 97 on the hooks 93 properly space the hooks on the diagonal bar. It will be noted from FIG. 11 that the spacing between the fingers 79 and 81 of the operating element is slightly greater than the thickness of one of the hooks 93 above the spacer elements 97, but the spacing between the rear surface of the finger 81 and the rear surface of the finger 79 is slightly less than the thickness of the hook 93, as measured through the spacer elements 97. When the operating element is pivoted from its normal position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, to its dispensing position, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the finger 79 will freely pass between the first or front hook 93 and the remaining hooks on the diagonal bar 67. Thus, the offset finger 79 operates as a hold finger when the finger 81 is moved out of the path of the first hook, and only the first hook and, of course, the attached bag 32 and its contents are permitted to drop from the diagonal bar 67. The bar 83 on the rear side of the finger 81 prevents the hook 93 from riding upon and jamming the operating element 69.

In order to effect the dispensing movement of the dispensing mechanism operating elements, a plurality of actuating elements 101 are pivotally mounted on a rod 103 which is attached to and extends longitudinally along the under side of the carriage 47. A spring 104 is provided for each of these actuating elements and resiliently urges the element toward its retracted position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 6. Each actuating element 101 has a solenoid 105 operatively connected thereto by means of a connecting ring 107. Each time a solenoid 105 is energized, the actuating element 101 associated therewith is pulled from the retracted position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 6 to the extended or operative position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. In this position, the end of the actuating element is adapted to engage the operating arm 75 of the dispensing mechanism operating element, and the transverse movement of the carriage 47 on which the element 101 is pivotally mounted forces the operating element 69 in the counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. As previously indicated, this movement of the operating element 69 permits one of the hooks 93 with the article receptacle 32 attached thereto to drop from the diagonal bar 67 of the dispensing mechanism toward the bottom 29 of the cabinet. As the card receptacle 32 drops, it engages a plate 109 pivotally mounted near the base 53:: of the yoke 53, and this signals the completion of the dispensing operation.

The movement of the carriage 47 and the actuation of the dispensing mechanisms 45 on the racks 43 are both controlled by the selector buttons 21 and 23 on the control panel 19a. Each button when depressed closes its own switch, and has a shank 111 with a latching shoulder 111a. This shoulder engages an axially movable, notched latch bar 113 when the button is depressed and thus the button is held in its depressed position. The notches of the latch bar 113 are disposed to one side of the button shanks 111 when the bar 113 is in its normal position. The latch bar 113 is connected to and operated by a solenoid 115, illustrated schematically in FIG. 13. When the solenoid 115 is energized, the latch bar 113 is pulled into its clear position wherein the notches thereof align with the button shanks 111, and the shanks are thus released. Springs 117 return the buttons to their normal or raised position.

The twenty lettered control buttons 23 determine which of the actuation mechanisms 61 on the carriage is to be actuated, and the eight numbered control buttons 21 determine in which position of the carriage 47 the selected actuation mechanism 61 is to be energized. For this purpose, eight carriage position detection microswitches 119 are provided, each associated with one of the numbered control buttons 21. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the micro-switches 119 are connected to the fixed bar rack 59 and each is positioned above and slightly to one side of one of the racks 43. These microswitches 119 are normally open and are closed when the carriage 47 moves into engagement with them. Thus, each time the carriage moves into position over one of the racks 43, one of the micro-switches 119 is closed.

Also mounted on and depending from the fixed bar rack 59 is a normally open reverse micro-switch 121 disposed at the extreme left hand end of the bar rack, as viewed in FIG. 3, and a normally open empty micro switch 123 and a normally closed stop micro-switch 125 are both disposed at the extreme right hand end of the fixed bar rack 59. These micro-switches are operated Whenever the carriage 47 comes into engagement with them. A coin rejector 127 and five relay switches 129, 130, 131, 132, and 133 complete the control circuit for the machine 15 (see FIG. 13).

The machine is operated from a 24 volt source of AC. current. After the purchaser has selected a card 31 in the display rack 30, a coin is deposited in the slot 27 in the front control panel 190! of the cabinet. The coin drops into the coin rejector mechanism 127 which is of common and well-known construction and operation. When the coin drops into the rejector, the lines 135 and 136 from the rejector are connected to one terminal L1 of the 24 volt A.C. source. The line 137 into the rejector is connected by means of a switch to the other terminal L2 of the AC. source; also the line 139 from the rejector is momentarily energized by a switch closed momentarily by insertion of a proper coin. The line 139 initially energizes the master relay 129 which closes contacts 1 and 2 and 4 and 5 and opens contacts 3 and 4 of relay 129, held in by the connection to the 24 volt A.C. source through closed contacts 4 and 5 of the master relay. Also, line 139 energizes the reverse relay 133 and the clearing solenoid 115 through the normally closed switch contacts 1 and 2 of relay and between contacts 1 and 2 in the delivery relay 132. The clear solenoid 115 unlatches all of the control buttons 21 and 23, so that the selection can be made by the purchaser as will be described should the carriage 47 be in any but the extreme right hand position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the energizing of the reverse relay 133 will cause the motor 55 to operate in the reverse direction to bring the carriage into this position. The motor 55 is energized in reverse through the contacts 9 and 10 of relay 133 which are closed when the relay 133 is energized. Since the reverse relay 133 is held in by closing of contacts 7 and 8 of relay 133 through the normally closed stop switch 125, the motor 55 will be operated in the reverse direction, until the stop switch 125 is opened by the carriage 47 to de-energize the reverse relay 133.

With the master relay 129 energized, the line 141 is also energized by closing of contacts 1 and 2 of relay 129,

and the line 143 to the switches closed by the selector buttons 21 will be energized through normally open switch contacts and 6 in the forward relay 130 when it is energized and contacts 3 and 4 of the reverse relay 133 when it is de-energized. A selection may now be made by depressing one of the twenty lettered buttons 23 and one of the eight numbered buttons 21. This completes the circuit from line 143 through a switch 21 and a resistance line 143a to effect energizing of the forward relay 130. At this point, in relay 130, contacts 3 and 4 and contacts 5 and 6 are closed and contacts 1 and 2 are opened. The motor 55 is energized through closed contacts 3 and 4 of the relay 130, line 145, and closed contacts 1 and 2 of relay 133 (now de-energized) to effect forward motion of the carriage 147.

When thecarriage 47 has moved into engagement with the proper micro-switch 119, as determined by the numbered buttons 21, the circuit will be completed through a solenoid 105 on one of the actuation mechanisms 61 on the carriage, and this solenoid will pull its associated operating element 101 to its lowered position for engagement with the dispensing mechanism on the rack 43 at that point. If a card is present in the dispensing mechanism, the card will drop toward the bottom 29 of the cabinet hitting the plate 109 carried by the yoke 53 which is attached to the carriage 47. As may be seen in FIG. 13, the plate 109 when hit closes a normally open switch 109a which completes the circuit from energizing line 141 through the delivery relay 132. At the same time, voltage is applied through a line 147 to the coin rejector 127, and this causes the coin rejector to de-energize the master relay 129 by opening the switches connecting the source of 24 volt AC. to the lines 135, 136 and 137. Before the master relay can be de-energized, however, the delivery relay 132 is energized (and closes the normally open switch contacts 2 and 3, contacts 4 and 5 and contacts 6 and 7 and opens contacts 1 and 2) long enough to apply a voltage across the clearing solenoid 115 through closed contacts 2 and 3 and causes the reverse relay 133 to be energized through contacts 6 and 7 of relay 132. The subsequent de-energizing of the master relay 129 causes the delivery relay 132 to be de-energized, and the energizing of the reverse relay 133 causes its contacts 3 and 4 to open and the forward relay 130 to be de-energized and the motor 55 to be reversed by closing of contacts 9 and 10, as described above. The motor 55 moves the carriage in the reverse direction, that is, to the right in FIG. 3 until the stop switch 125 is opened and the reverse relay 133 is de-energized.

In the event that there is no card to be dropped from the selected mechanism 45, the delivery switch 109a is not closed to energize the delivery relay 132 and the reverse relay. Therefore, motor 55 continues to move the carriage 47 to the left as in FIG. 3 until the carriage hits the reverse switch 121, whereupon a voltage is applied across the clear solenoid 115 and across the reverse relay 133 through the closed contacts 6 and 7 thereof. The energizing of the reverse relay 133 cause the motor 55 to reverse and bring the carriage 47 back toward the initial position, on the right side of the machine. On its return, just before engaging and opening the stop switch 125 to de-energize the reverse relay 133, the carriage engages and closes the empty micro-switch 123. This causes the empty relay 131 to be energized through closed contacts 1 and 2 thereof, closed switch 123, closed contacts 4 and 5 of relay 133 and line 141, and this relay remains energized by voltage from the coin rejector through the line 136 and the contacts 2 and 3 of relay 131 which closed as the relay was energized. A light 149 is lit illuminating one of the instruction windows 25 informing the purchaser that the card he has selected is out, and that he may make another selection. If the purchaser does not wish to make another selection, he may press the coin return 28 on the coin rejector 127 thereby opening the switches therein and the coin will bereturned. Simultaneously, the master relay 129 will be de-energized.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that many modifications and changes in various details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

' 1. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a plurality of horizontally spaced racks, a frame having means thereon for releasably engaging and supporting said racks in spaced relationship with respect to each other, whereby said racks may be individually and independently removed from said frame, each rack having mounted thereon a plurality of mechanically actuated dispensing mechanisms, each mechanism being adapted to hold and sequentially dispense a plurality of articles therefrom, actuation means having a plurality of actuating elements for selectively operating different dispensing mechanisms on a rack, said actuation means being movable transverse to and above said racks through a plurality of mechanism actuation positions'in each of which said actuation means is in substantial alignment with one of said racks, a motor for moving said actuation means and control means for energizing said motor to move said actuation means to a selected mechanism actuation position and for energizing one of said actuating elements in said position, whereby a preselected one of said dispensing mechanisms on a preselected one of said racks will be operated to dispense an article therefrom.

2. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a plurality of elongate racks in side by side relation, each rack having mounted thereon a plurality of mechanically actuated dispensing mechanisms, a frame having means thereon for slidably en-- gaging said racks and for horizontally supporting said racks in spaced relationship, whereby said racks may be individually and independently moved between an operative position in substantially coextensive relationship with respect to said frame and a longitudinally extended loading position actuation means having a plurality of actuating elements for selectively operating different mechanisms on a rack, said actuation means being relatively movable with respect to and above said racks through a plurality of mechanism actuation positions, a motor for moving said actuation means and control means for energizing said motor to move said actuation means to a selected mechanism actuation position and for energizing one of said actuating elements in said position, whereby a preselected one of said dispensing mechanisms will be operated to dispense an article therefrom.

3. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms arranged in substantially parallel, horizontal rows, means for releasably and individually attaching each article to be dispensed to one of said dispensing mechanisms, each dispensing mechanism being adapted to hold a plurality of attached articles and to release one of the articles each time said mechanism is actuated, an elongate carriage spanning said dispensing mechanisms in a direction substantially parallel with said rows and movable in a transverse direction to sweep over said mechanisms and, through a number of mechanism actuation positions, a plurality of power operated actuation mechanisms mounted on said carriage in transverse alignment with the dispensing mechanisms on said frame, carriage position detection means for each mechanism actuation position of said carriage, dispensing mechanism selection means for rendering a selected actuation mechanism on said carriage responsive to a selected carriage position detection means, whereby power may be applied to said selected actuation mechanism when said carriage is in the selected actuation position to actuate a selected dispensing mechanism and dispense an article from said selected dispensing mechanism, article delivery detection means for detecting the dispensing of an article from one of said dispensing mechanisms, and power motive means responsive to said selection means for advancing said carriage from a normal position toward the selected position, said power motive means being responsive to said delivery detection means for returning said carriage to its normal position.

4. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms arranged in substantially parallel, horizontal rows, means for releasably and individually attaching each article to be dispensed to one of said dispensing mechanisms, each dispensing mechanism being adapted to hold a plurality of attached articles and to release one of the articles each time said mechanism is actuated, an elongate carriage spanning said mechanisms in a direction substantially parallel with said rows and movable in a transverse direction to sweep over said mechanisms and through a number of mechanism actuation positions, a plurality of power operated actuation mechanisms mounted on said carriage in transverse alignment with the dispensing mechanisms on said frame, carriage position detection means for each mechanism actuation position of said carriage, dispensing mechanism selection means for rendering a selected actuation mechanism on said carriage responsive to a selected carriage position detection means, whereby power may be applied to said selected actuation mechanism when said carriage is in the selected actuation position to actuate a selected dispensing mechanism and dispense an article from the selected dispensing mechanism, article delivery detection means for detecting the dispensing of an article from one of said dispensing mechanisms, signal means responsive to the movement of said carriage for signaling when an article has not been dispensed and said carriage has moved past the selected position, whereby another selection can be made by the operator.

5. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of mechanisms arranged on said frame in horizontal spaced relationship and in a plurality of substantially parallel rows, each mechanism including a first element relatively fixed with respect to said frame for suspending therefrom a plurality of articles to be dispensed and a second element transversely movable with respect to said first element between a normal position and a dispensing position wherein it is effective to release one of the articles from said first element, a carriage transversely movable through a number of actuation positions wherein it is in operative relationship with a row of mechanisms, a plurality of actuation elements carried by said carriage, each element being independently movable between an extended and a retracted position, and means for effecting movement of a selected element to its extended position when said carriage has moved into operative relationship with a selected row of mechanisms, whereby the second element of one of the mechanisms in that row will be moved to its dispensing position by the extended actuation element and an article will be dispensed from the apparatus.

6. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a plurality of racks, a frame having means thereon for supporting said racks in spaced relationship with respect to each other, each rack having mounted thereon a plurality of mechanically actuated dispensing mechanisms, each mechanism including a downwardly inclined bar relatively fixed with respect to said frame for holding a plurality of articles to be dispensed and a second element transversely movable with respect to said bar between a normal position and a dispensing position wherein it is effective to release one of the articles from said bar, a carriage transversely movable through a number of actuation positions wherein it is in operative relationship with one of said racks, a plurality of actuation elements carried by said carriage, each element being independently movable between an extended and a retracted position, and means for effecting movement of a selected element to its extended position when said carriage has moved into operative relationship with a selected rack, whereby the second element of one of the mechanisms on that rack will be moved to its dispensing position by the extended actuation element and an article will be dispensed from the apparatus.

7. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of rows of dispensing mechanisms arranged in horizontal spaced relationship on said frame, each mechanism including a bar relatively fixed with respect to said frame and inclined relative to the horizontal, a dispensing element movable transverse to said bar between a normal and a dispensing position and means resiliently urging said element toward its normal position, means for individually and releasably attaching each article to be dispensed from a mechanism to the inclined bar of that mechanism, the dispensing element of each mechanism being effective to release one of the articles from said inclined bar when said element is moved to its dispensing position, a carriage movable transversely of said rows, means on said carriage corresponding to each dispensing mechanism in a row for moving said dispensing elements to dispensing position, and control means for effecting movement of the carriage and actuating a selected moving means thereon to move one of said dispensing elements into its dispensing position whereby an article may be dispensed from said apparatus.

8. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of rows of dispensing mechanisms arranged in horizontal spaced relationship on said frame, each mechanism including a fixed member for suspending a plurality of articles to be dispensed for movement in a dispensing direction along a path to a dispensing position, and a dispensing member movable transverse to said dispensing direction in said path of the articles to said dispensing position, said dispensing member having a pair of blades relatively offset in the direction of member movement and in the dispensing direction, whereby as said member is moved from its normal to its dispensing position one of the blades will be moved out of said path of the articles as the other blade is moved into said path of articles and the article between the moving blades may be released, and a carriage movable transversely of said rows, a plurality of movable actuating elements on said carriage corresponding to the dispensing members in a row, and motor means for moving said carriage transversely of said rows to position said actuating elements adjacent to said dispensing members in a selected row and move an actuating element corresponding to a selected dispensing member to move the latter to a dispensing position.

9. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms arranged in substantially parallel rows in horizontal spaced relationship on said frame, each mechanism including a downwardly inclined bar relatively fixed with respect to said frame for supporting a plurality of articles for movement along a path in a dispensing direction to a dispensing position, a dispensing lever pivotally mounted for movement transverse to said inclined bar in the path of the articles between a normal position and a dispensing position, means resiliently urging said lever toward its normal position, said dispensing lever including a pair of blades relatively offset parallel to the pivotal axis of the lever and in the direction of lever movement, whereby as said lever is moved from its normal to its dispensing position one of said blades will be moved out of said path of the articles as the other blade is moved into said path of the articles and the article between the moving blades may be released, a carriage movable transversely of said rows, a plurality of movable actuating elements on said carriage corresponding to the dispensing levers in a row, motor means for moving said carriage transversely of said rows to position said actuating elements adjacent to said dispensing levers in a selected row and motor means on said carriage for moving an actuating element corresponding to a selected dispensing lever to move the latter to dispensing position.

10. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of rows of a plurality of dispensing mechanisms arranged in substantially parallel rows in horizontal spaced relationship on said frame, eac-h mechanism including a downwardly inclined bar relatively fixed with respect to said frame for supporting a plurality of articles for movement along a path in a dispensing direction to a dispensing position, a dispensing lever pivotally mounted for movement transverse to said inclined bar between a normal and a dispensing position, and means resiliently urging said lever toward its normal position, said dispensing lever including a pair of blades relatively offset with respect to each other both in the direction parallel to the pivotal axis and in the direction of lever movement, an element for individually and releasably attaching each article to be dispensed from a mechanism to the inclined bar of that mechanism, whereby as the lever of that mechanism is moved to its dispensing position one of the blades will be moved out of said path of one of said elements as the other blade is moved behind the one element into .said path of the other elements remaining on said bar to eifect the release of only the one element and the article attached thereto, a carriage movable transversely of said rows, a plurality of movable actuating elements on said carriage corresponding to the dispensing levers in a row, and motor means for moving said carriage transversely of said rows to position said actuating elements adjacent to said dispensing levers in a selected row and motor means on said carriage for moving an actuating element corresponding to a selected dispensing lever to move the latter to dispensing position.

11. The structure of claim wherein means is provided on each element for uniformly spacing said elements on said inclined bar, whereby the entry of said other blade between the one element and the remaining elements on the bar may be smoothly effected without jamming.

12. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an' article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms arranged in substantially horizontal parallel rows on said frame, each row having a plurality of dispensing mechanisms therein, each dispensing mechanism comprising an inclined bar for releasably and individually supporting a plurality of articles to be dispensed and an operating member for retaining said articles on said bar and movable to release one of the articles from said bar each time said operating member is actuated, an

elongated movable carriage above said rows and spanning nism for applying power to a selected actuation mechanism on said carriage when said carriage is in a selected position to actuate a selected operating member and dispense an article from a dispensing mechanism.

13. In an apparatus for selectively dispensing an article from a variety of articles, a frame, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms arranged in substantially horizontal parallel rows on said frame, each row having a plurality of dispensing mechanisms therein, each dispensing mechanism including an inclined bar for releasably and individually supporting a plurality of articles to be dispensed from the mechanism, and an operating member for retaining said articles on said bar and releasing one of the articles each time said mechanism is actuated, an elongated movable carriage above said rows and spanning said frame in a direction parallel with said rows, power motive means for eifecting transverse movement of said carriage, whereby said carriage may sweep over said mechanisms and through a number of mechanism actuation positions, a plurality of power operated actuation mechanisms mounted on said carriage in alignment with the operating members in each row, carriage position detection means for each mechanism actuation positionof said carriage, and dispensing mechanism selection means for rendering a selected actuation mechanism on said carriage responsive to a selected carriage position detection means, whereby power may be applied to said selected actuation mechanism when said carriage is in the selected actuation position to actuate a selected operating member and dispense an article from a selected dispensing mechanism.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 881,818 3/1908 Morrison et al. 223- X 1,758,744 5/1930 Haubert 24230 .5 1,765,180 6/1930 Schrum 22130l 2,322,381 6/1943 Mueller 221-301 X 2,327,519 8/1943 Groothedde 2473 2,380,104 7/1945 Gebauer 24-73 2,516,823 7/1950 Ziegler 221-126 2,599,173 6/1952 Hamilton 221129 X r 2,602,556 7/1952 Sheehan 22l-301 X 2,634,185 4/1953 Wilder 221-129 2,751,071 6/ 1956 Goldband.

2,777,603 1/1957 Baum 22l-126 X 2,825,488 3/1958 Nelson 221-67 2,847,146 8/1958 Obourn 221-l29 2,865,107 12/1958 Castano 24-230.5 X 2,930,510 3/1960 Pallissard 221289 3,043,423 7/ 1962 Shenker.

3,076,566 2/1963 Dennis 22194 X 3,085,724 4/1963 Wilde 223-85 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,215,721 11/1959 France.

OTHER REFERENCES German application 1,077,466, printed March 10, 1960 (K1. 43 b 23).

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEINER, Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY DISPENSING AN ARTICLE FROM A VARIETY OF ARTICLES, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED RACKS, FRAME HAVING MEANS THEREON FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING SAID RACKS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, WHEREBY SAID RACKS MAY BE INDIVIDUALLY AND INDEPENDENTLY REMOVED FROM SAID FRAME, EACH RACK HAVING MOUNTED THEREON A PLURALITY OF MECHANICALLY ACTUATED DISPENSING MECHANISMS, EACH MECHANISM BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD AND SEQUENTIALLY DISPENSE A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES THEREFROM, ACTUATION MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING ELEMENTS FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING DIFFERENT DISPENSING MECHANISMS ON A RACK, SAID ACTUATION MEANS BEING MOVABLE TRANSVERSE TO AND ABOVE SAID RACKS THROUGH A PLURALITY OF MECHANISM ACTUATION POSITIONS IN EACH OF WHICH SAID ACTUATION MEANS IS IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID RACKS, A MOTOR FOR MOVING SAID ACTUATION MEANS AND CONTROL MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID MOTOR TO MOVE SAID ACTUATION MEANS TO A SELECTED MECHANISM ACTUATION POSITION AND FOR ENERGIZING ONE OF SAID ACUTATION ELEMENTS IN SAID POSITION, WHEREBY A PRESELECTED ONE OF SAID DISPENSING MECHANISMS ON A PRESELECTED ONE OF SAID RACKS WILL BE OPERATED TO DISPENSE AN ARTICLE THEREFROM. 